On the eve of ITMA Asia + CITME， the current situation in our sector remains positive. Export figures for the first half of the year have recorded growth， and the domestic market continues to show positive signs. We therefore expect to close out 2016 with a further increase in production， thanks in part to the boost that ITMA ASIA+ CITME can provide.
　　Right from the very first edition， ITMA ASIA +CITME has proven its worth as a world class trade fair event， capable of attracting visitors from all over Asia， not just China. The response from machinery manufacturers also confirms its overall importance， In particular， Italian manufacturers who will be exhibiting represent one of the more prominent foreign groups， with roughly 120 Italian exhibitors in attendance at this edition， occupying a surface area of 5400 square meters.
　　Asia is a primary destination for all textile machinery companies， not just Italian businesses， and China represents the main foreign market for Italian manufacturers. In 2015 we exported 331 million euros worth of machinery to China， and sales for our manufacturers have continued to grow in the first six months of 2016 （+11% on the same period of previous year）. Demand for new machinery remains high in other markets in the area as well， backed by a continued development of the textile and garments industry in Asia， which remains the foremost production hub for many global brands in the garments industry. In this context， Italian technology has its strong appeal for Asian textile manufacturers， due to its reliability， flexibility and excellent price/quality ratio. Market shares held by Italian machinery manufacturers are on the rise， not just in China and India， but in other countries as well， such as Vietnam and Bangladesh， proving the validity of our offer.